Gravity Can Lift You Up

From Dave Brigham:

I decelerated so quickly when I saw this building, I'm surprised I didn't get rear-ended. If I'd been in a more populated area, I would have. But since I was in rural Stow, Mass., home to numerous apple orchards and other farms, I was never in danger.

"Gravity Rock," the sign over the door says. Perhaps, like Hanging Rock of literary and film renown, Gravity Rock has some deep, dark story attached to it, I thought. Maybe this little area of Stow is rife with haunting tales of murder and depravity. But why would a church be named after such a place?

I snapped another picture, and told myself that I would look up this place as soon as I got home.

Upon my arrival home, my elation turned to disappointment and then confusion.

Gravity Rock, as it turns out, has no sordid past and doesn't refer to a place in Stow, Rather, it's a company, albeit one that seems a little shady.

There's a listing on LinkedIn for "Gravity Rock Gym" at this address, 4 Marlboro Road, Stow, Mass. Oddly, however, the business type is listed as "Computer Software." I'm guessing somebody living at this address, or a former resident, is trying to figure out his or her life and how to make money.

This building, which was erected in 1898 as the Gleasondale Methodist-Episcopal Church, doesn't seem to know what it is anymore, either.

A Google search brought up a real estate listing indicating it is a single-family home with three bedrooms, two full baths and 5,666 square feet. Also, I found a listing at Pluralism.org that says the building is the Sri Akshar Puroshottam Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, opened in 1990. Another web site says it was opened in 2000.

There's little evidence of anyone living or worshipping there, at least not mid-morning during the week. As always, I'll keep an eye on the place.

Bring Out Your Dead

From Dave Brigham:

Before visiting the Harvard (Mass.) Center Cemetery, I'd never heard of a hearse house. That's one right up there, built in 1846 to shelter the horse-drawn carriage that hauled coffins to the graveyard.

Right next to the hearse house stands the public vault, which was erected in 1884 as a temporary resting place for residents "when circumstances would not permit immediate burial," according to a sign on the building.

There are so many great headstones and ornamental pieces in this cemetery, but you know me, I always look for the elements that are bent, broken or bowed.

There's plenty of straight-up beauty here, too.

As for the title of this post, it comes from the scene below in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," one of my favorite movies of all time.

Scenes From An Old Shoe Town

From Dave Brigham:

Here are some scenes from Hudson, Mass., a one-time shoe factory town incorporated in 1866.

(Sign on the back of Chubby's Liquors.)

(International Order of Oddfellows Hall.)

(Old railroad right of way, former Boston & Maine line.)

(I believe this building is part of Larkin Custom Millwork, which was formed in 2013 subsequent to the closure of Larkin Lumber after 130 years.)

(Former train bridge, now part of the Assabet River Rail Trail.)

(Awesome old Lincoln.)

(Not sure what this building is, but it's very cool.)

(Back of the very cool building.)

(Detail of the former Hudson Mill building.)

(Old rail and stack at former Hudson Mill building.)